Friday, April 27, 2007

Who Cares About Global Warming?


Much noise has been made over the last few years about the dangers we face, as fast-paced global warming threatens to dramatically change the environment. Many people claim that global warming is somehow related to human activity, while others deny the clear, scientifically-proven existence of such a link.

While the movement supporting some kind of action has gained momentum within activist circles (à la Al Gore) and the international public opinion, I for one am not hopeful of any significant change over the near future.

In the international relations arena, the divide between those that favour action to curb climate change and those who deny the pertinence of such action is a very clear one: on one side, you have the Bush administration, Australia and Canada (whose previous administration failed to implement the Kyoto Protocol and whose current one has no intention of upholding it); on the other the "rest of the world", including world leaders, NGOs, international bodies, public opinion, etc... Kyoto, without the participation of the United States (25% of world emissions) and of China and India (who ratified but are exempt from emission cuts for the time being) is truly dead.

No change can come from the top on climate change: those who can enforce change will not betray the industries that pollute the most, because they are direct or indirect beneficiaries of industry. Most declarations of politicians concerning curbing emissions is mere lip service, as what really drives the world is the bottom line: profit, re-election, consumerism, comfort, all of which can be neatly tucked into that most American (indeed, Western or globalized) of ideals - the pursuit of happiness, which means that not enough consumers care enough to demand a change in attitude from their elites, or from themselves.

What I am getting at is that the whole discussion on whether or not climate change is man-made is deeply flawed. Rather, it sidesteps the issue. If you deny human activity as a catalyst for climate change, then clearly there is no issue. If, on the other hand, you agree that the current fast-paced climate change is related to human activity, then you wallow in self-pity, blaming the lack of will of those who are in the position of actually bringing the mass scale change that is necessary to revert the trend.

But, as I said, both sides have missed the real issue: human misuse of the world. Whether or not our activity is causing global warming does not matter. What matters is that it is NOT sustainable. Changing from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy makes us feel warm and fuzzy. Recycling is a great thing, although very little of it is done on a global scale. Organic food? Great, if you can afford it.

Clearly, though, those solutions (including carbon emission reduction) are but band-aids, typical of the Western-turned-global mindset: we treat the symptoms without addressing the disease. Have a problem? Pop a pill and keep moving! What we need is a paradigm shift. We need to change as a society, as individuals even. I could go first, but what's the point - are you gonna follow???

Monday, April 16, 2007

Hometown Baghdad

La puissance de l'internet est qu'elle permet à des mortels comme vous et moi de passer outre la censure imposée par les grands médias. Hometown Baghdad suit le quotidien de jeunes irakiens, qui subissent ce conflit si lointain pour nous occidentaux. Ce sont d'ailleurs ces mêmes jeunes qui filment leur propre 'téléréalité'. Ça vaut le détour, pour nous Occidentaux qui nous plaignons de nos vies confortables.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Foreign Policy Commentary by MADtv

Sorry for the week long silence. Pascha celebrations and exams have kept me busy these last few days and will continue to until the middle of next week.

For now, I wanted to share this video a friend of mine brought to my attention.

CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK: The Apple iRack

Friday, April 6, 2007

Reflections of an Orthodox Christian


Another Pascha (Easter) is upon us. Pascha, the Resurrection of Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, is the greatest celebration of the Christian year. I wanted to share with you two experiences I had this past week – experiences characteristic of the Lenten struggle.

As with any celebration, Pascha requires preparation – after all, no one goes to a party without some kind of preparation. Yet, year after year, I am surprised to recognize myself in these words sung in the Matins of the Bridegroom (Holy Wednesday evening): “Your bridal chamber, I see adorned, O my Saviour, and I have no wedding garment that I may enter.” The realization that this verse speaks of me was brought home by the fact that I arrived in church one full hour after the service I was supposed to be reading for started. Talk about being in tune! We tend to think that we are adequate – that we are doing just fine, that we need no healing, no betterment, no repentance. It is moments like that one on Wednesday that really should serve as a wake-up call.

I had had another moment like that last Sunday – Palm Sunday. Together with my wife, my brother and some friends, I half-heartedly agreed that we go to an Antiochian Orthodox parish. That particular parish, where we have many friends, is renowned for its chaotic Palm Sundays: one must come early in order to secure a spot or risk being relegated to the basement, only to watch the service on TV screens! Also, it’s very noisy – Orthodox churches are known for the brouhaha that accompanies services, as people are encouraged to feel at home in church, not in a museum. But at that particular parish, Palm Sunday busy-ness is like being transported to the streets of an old city in the Middle East. I often compare it to being in the merchants’ quarter, or souq.

So there we were, in that souq service (granted, it really wasn’t as bad as previous years), me holding on to any fault I could find. It got pretty bad, I started to want to just walk out of the church. It was then that I had my realization: God’s murmur in my heart (for God never yells) demanded my attention. As I was agonizing over the constant re-tuning of the choir before each and every response – wishing I was back at my home parish, that soft voice told me: ‘Stop focusing on details. You’re here to be with Me. Just be with Me.’

I was filled with joy at this realization, and I spent the rest of the service just conversing with the Lord in my heart. Alas, as is often the case, such states of grace are gone far too quickly. But thankfully, this weekend I will experience that joy yet again, as we are all invited to the great banquet of the Lord - even those (especially those) of us who have 'no wedding garment' that we may enter.

For all are invited, as is stressed in the sermon by St. John Chrysostom read aloud in all Orthodox churches around the world:

If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.

If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.

If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.

If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention.

Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward. O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy! O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!

Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.

Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.

He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into hades and took hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted his flesh! And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed, "Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions." It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!

It took a body and, face to face, met God! It took earth and encountered heaven! It took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen!

"O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory?"

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is risen, and life reigns!

Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!

For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the First-fruits of them that slept.

To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen."


Christ is risen! Le Christ est ressuscité! Cristo ressuscitou! Христос Воскресе! Χριστός Ανέστη! !المسيح قام Kristo Amefufukka! 基督復活了! ハリストス復活!

Sunday, April 1, 2007

NEW FEATURE!

French is not your thing? Some of my French articles are now available in English. Visit The World According To Leo!

NOTE: English posts on this site will NOT be transferred over (unless you clamour for it, that is)

La température monte au Moyen-Orient

(go to English version)
Quand on a accueilli l’année 2007 à Beyrouth, on sentait un certain malaise dans l’air. Cette année serait pleine d’événements, pour le meilleur ou pour le pire. En cette fin de Carême, on voit que les choses commencent à bouger. Au Liban, la situation continue bloquée : l’opposition continue à étouffer le centre-ville tandis que la majorité parlementaire, appuyée par les Etats-Unis et la France, prie pour un miracle. Mais, la situation au Liban, on le sait, ne se résoudra pas sur place, mais bien entre Damas, Téhéran, Riyad, Washington et Paris.

Curieusement, d’un seul coup, le Moyen-Orient est en ébullition. Tellement de choses se passent sur autant de fronts, qu’il est difficile d’en cerner la signification (à moins de faire partie du club fermé des princes de ce monde).

D’abord, pour l’énième fois ces dernières semaines, Condoleeza Rice accumule des miles entre l’Amérique et ses myriades visites chez les Israéliens, les Saoudiens, etc. Vladimir Poutine aussi a effectué sa propre tournée dans le monde arabe récemment, afin de signaler à Washington que la Russie entend avoir son mot à dire dans cette région charnière.

Mais tout cela n’est rien comparé à la fébrilité à laquelle on a assisté depuis la semaine dernière : Rice est de nouveau au Moyen-Orient. La chancelière allemande Angela Merkel, en tant que présidente de l’Union européenne, s’affaire elle aussi à discuter avec Olmert sur la proposition de la Ligue arabe sur un plan de paix totale entre le monde arabe et Israël, ainsi que sur les relations entre le gouvernement assiégé de l’Autorité palestinienne et l’État hébreu.

Plus tôt cette semaine, les médias russes annonçaient avoir pris connaissance de préparations pour une attaque imminente des États-Unis sur l’Iran, prévues pour ce Vendredi saint (ou lundi de Pâques, selon d'autres). Ces informations auraient été cueillies par les services de renseignement russes. Sauf que normalement ce genre d’information n’est pas divulgué sans raison, et il faut toujours se demander pourquoi une telle ‘fuite’ a lieu. En parallèle, la capture par Téhéran de soldats britanniques, accusés d’avoir envahi les eaux territoriales iraniennes, tandis que l’on assiste au plus grand déploiement de navires de guerre dans le Golfe depuis 1991.

Parmi les plans américains, les défenses balistiques (missiles sol-air), les forces aériennes et les installations nucléaires iraniennes seraient visées. Évidemment, ce type d’attaque s’effectue à l’aide de bombes nucléaires tactiques surnommées bombes ‘propres’ (euphémisme), ou encore mini-nukes. Selon une de mes sources (tu sais qui tu es, merci!), ces bombes sont de l’ordre de 13 kilotonnes (à titre de comparaison les bombes larguées sur le Japon étaient de 20 kilotonnes). Elles seraient utilisées, selon les stratèges américains, afin de transpercer le sol et atteindre des bunkers enfouis. Où ces bunkers sont, et quel est le risque à long terme pour la population civile, je l’ignore.

Pour sa part, Nancy Pelosi, chef démocrate du Congrès américain, est en Israël et devrait se rendre à Damas, probablement pour donner un ultimatum à la Syrie – either you’re with us or you’re against us, qu’ils disent. Si Assad ne fléchit pas, il risque la possibilité d’une attaque israélienne via le Liban-Sud.

C’est possible que tout cela ne soit que de la rhétorique (appuyée évidemment par des porte-avions et une concentration massive de marines sur la frontière irano-irakienne. Pour sa part, selon le quotidien Haaretz, aucune préparation de ce genre n'a lieu présentement, ce qui n'empêche le Hezbollah, la Syrie et l'Iran de mettre en place des dispositifs de défense contre une guerre en été - que ces derniers n'initieraient pas cependant.

Ce qui est sûr, c’est que QUELQUECHOSE est en train de mijoter au Moyen-Orient. Au Liban, on attend...

"TV for the Internet age!" and Xingu.net

Most people like to watch TV. In an age where cable-TV providers offer us consumers hundreds of channels with nothing worth your ever-shrinking time, some people have taken matters into their own hands and have given us the power to make TV.
The principle is quite ingenious: segments called 'pods' lasting no more than 4 minutes, made partly by ordinary webizens (no, I did NOT just create a word), presented to the viewer in a 'shuffle' randomness. Ideal for the 21st century
internaute, whose attention span is shorter than ever...
Mesdames et messieurs
, without further ado, I would like to introduce you to Current TV. (go on, click on the link)

On unrelated news, Brazil has decided to deploy its latest hi-tech weapon in order to protect the environment: the Internet. More on this strange story, here.

J'accepte des donations (CAN$, US$, €, £, etc...)

Je viens de décider ce que je m'offre comme cadeau cet été (avec VOTRE aide):



Merci d'avance, les amis!

(Non, ch'uis pas sérieux... Ouf, on peut rêver, non?)